Glass surfacing machine



Patented July 19, 1932 UNITEDJF'FST'ATEVS PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH P. CROWLEY, or 'ronnno'; euro, nssreivo tmoLrBBEY-owENs-roRn GLASS com- PANY, or 'ronnno, onro, A CORPORATION or onro ems's sunracme viuncnmn Applicatiori filed August 28, 1925. Serial No. 53,026. r

This invention relates to an .improved form of glass supporting table for use in glass surfacing apparatus. i

An object of the present invention is to provide the upper surface of a-glass supporting table with means t'opermit it to support a maximum amount of glass to be'surfaced.

Another object of. the present invention" is to maintain as near'aspossible a continuous horizontal glass level slightly above the surface of the sheet supporting table so that the table top will not interfere with the surfacing of theglass. r

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for surfacing glass sheets of various sizes.

A further object ofthe invention is to freely and individually support a plurality of glass sheets in a glass surfacing apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of'thisinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

"In the accompanying drawing,

' Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a polishing unit of asurfacing apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the glass supporting'table showing the polishin'g'blocks diagrammatically arranged, r

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectio taken on line- 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 3.

The sheet supporting tablet is mounted on the end of a vertical column 6 whichf'free- 1y rotates in bearing 7- arranged within the framework 8. The table is preferably mounted on roller bearings 9, and is driven by a set of bevel gears 10, connected to some convenient form .of drive.

rounding this square sheet supporting mem-- her a plurality of adjustable sheet supporting segments 13. These segments are independently and slidably mounted on the clovetailed ways 14 arranged in the platen 11.

The slidable segments are fitted with adjusting bolts 15 for in andout adjustment there- 7 of. The bolts extend through the segments and are screw-threadedly mounted in tapped holes 16 in the square sheet supporting memher. The sheet supporting members 12 and 13 are preferably constructed of heavy metal to be. absolutely rigid and their upper surfaces are accurately; machined to a true and common level. It is necessary that these surfaces 17 and 18 be substantially true and flat because they initially serve as master surfaces for producing perfect lights of plate and 24 made of wood or other suitable material. at the perimeter of the foursegments and secured thereto by screws 25 and dowels 26; The inner edges of the side piece 21 and the end pieces 23 and 24 of each segment collectively form the central recess 19. Within the recesses 19 and 20, and securely or loosely laid on the master surfaces 17 and 18, are

sheet supporting pads 27 and 28 of cork, felt or:similar cushioning material. These pads should be substantially equal in thickness throughout so that the master surface thereunder will be correspondingly registered on the upper surface of the" pads. The recess then consists of a cushioned or carpeted bottom and side walls of a non-metallic substance, and conforms to .but slightly. larger than theground glass blanks 29 and 30 placed therein. 1 The pads, the sides and end pieces of the recesses are of such thickness that the glass blanks resting freely therein will extend a few thousandths of an inch above the side andend pieces, as shown in Fig. 3.

i ;It so occurs that the ground glass blanks sometimes vary-in thickness. For this reason the side piece 21 and the end pieces23 and 24 are made to accommodate the thinne'st'possible blanks. In order to :provide for the having secured to its lower face a feltlpad 36. These blocks arejpivotally-mounted "by the spindles 37 on a plurality'of spiders 38 suitably arranged above the glass. When the spiders are in lowered position, these blocks rest at all times with their entire weight;

upon the glass surface. The blocks are of sufficient sizeto span the space occupied by glass: supporting ;ta'ble, ag central sheet :sup-

piece f22 and therefore this piece does not engage the surface of the polishing block. T he polishing tools are driven by their frictional engagement with the glass upon'the exposed surface of the rotating table. If the frictional engagement of the'tools with the glasszis not sufficient'to satisfactorily drive -them,they maybe positively driven by being connected to some convenient form of outside drive. 7

'With this preferred form of glass supporting table all available space on thesurface thereof is utilized in freely supporting 'theglass. This approaches an ideal condition for the surfacing tools, particularly 1n 7 the case of the polishingtools.

During the polishing ofsheetglass it is necessary that the felt pads on the polishing toolsbecome evenlycoated or caked with'a layer of rouge to effectivelypolish the glass. The rouge isperiodically applied tothe glass surface atconvenient locations. The polish- It is to be understood that the table construcv tion shown in the drawing is applicable to a grinding unit as well, which is identical in design except for the type and arrangement of the surfacing tools.

. In practice, the slidable segments 13 are moved outwardly by" turning the w adjusting bolts 15. Thispermits the large central glass blank 30 to be easily-placed within its-recess 19. After the :blank lies fiat within the recess I the slidable segments are moved inwardly .sufliciently far to allow clearance between-the inside edge of side pieces-22 attached thereto, and the adjacent edges 32 of the blank 30. The glass blanks 29 are then placed freely within their recess 20 in the slidable segments 7 13. .These blanks 29 'are c'utslightl'y smaller 7 in. size than therecesses soasto have 'sufiiicientclearanc'e betWeenitheiredges and the I sidewalls-of the'recesse's. then ready 1 for operation.

7 The apparatus is thereupon.

resorted to without departing: from thespirit of the invention or thescope-of -the sub Omed claims.

I claim: V a -1.*In*sheet glass surfacing "apparatus, 'a sheet glass 'supporting'tablehaving a central sheet receiving recess and a plurality of surrounding recesses for receiving individual sheets of glass, and means for varying the. 7

size of the central sheet receiving recess.

2. Inv sheet glass surfacingzapparatus, a

portlng member carried :by the table, and .a

' plurality :of: horizontally iadj ustabl'e recessed memberssurroun'dingsai'd central "member for receiving:findi'vidi'ial sheets 0f sglass, said surroundmgsmembers extending above sald central member to define a central sheet "glass "re-ceivingzirecess thereupon;

3.; ln; apparatus :for i surfacing sheet glass,

a continuously rotatable worktable, :and' I a plurality of horizontally-adjustable members carried uponthewtop thereof, said Rmembers being provided with individual recesses for "receiving individualsheets of glass to beacted upon simultaneously and further cooperating to form thewside walls of a=glassholding recess :therebetween.

4.":In'sheet lass surfacing apparatus, a work tableyan a plurality of glass support .ing members carried upon the top thereof, said'memberszbeing arranged'to define a centralsheet receiving-recess upon the table and being also provided'with individual recesses for receiving separate sheets ofsglass therein.

In sheetglass-surfacing apparatus, a

continuously rotattablework table,'and aplural ty of horizontally adjustable segments carriedupon :the top thereof, said segments being arranged to form-a central sheetreceivmg recess uponthe table and being also provided with individual irecesses for receiving separate'isheets w of glass therein;

"6. In sheet glass'surfacing apparatus, a

glass SllPPOI'tlIlg' table,-a :centr'al sheet supportingj member carried bythe table, and

a plurality of recessedmembers surrounding said central member for 'receivlng individual sheets-ofgl ass,- -said :surrounding-.members extending above saidcentral memberto define a central lsh 'ee't glass receiving recess Signed at and State .of Ohio, this 26th day of August,

Toledo, inv-the'c ountyof Lucas, 7 

